Chaotic Last Decisions Delivered

By Lottie Watts

The Supreme Court delivered its final decisions on Thursday in the cases of Medellin v. Texas and Boumediene v. Bush. Justice Ginsberg delivered the decision in Medellin and Justice Kennedy attempted to explain the chaos surrounding Boumediene, which was essentially a victory for the Bush Administration.

Medellin v. Texas was a 6-3 victory for the petitioner. In the opinion, “the court refutes the notion that the President has the authority to order the state courts to follow the ICJ’s Avena ruling.” Justices Kennedy, Stevens, Thomas, Souter and Scalia joined Ginsberg in the opinion. Justice Roberts dissented and Justice Alito joined the dissent. Justice Souter joined the dissent in part.

A wild decision in Boumediene v. Bush

The Supreme Court today was unable to deliver an opinion of the court today in the case of Boumediene v. Bush.  The vote was a split of 4-1-4 as the two groups split on the two different questions in the case.  This was not the definitive conclusion on the issue of detainee rights that either side was looking for.  Stay tuned to The 316 for further coverage of the case. 

Last Case Heard by Supreme Court

By Lottie Watts

The Supreme Court heard its last case of the term Thursday, November 15, 2007.

The case of Boumediene v. Bush, which deals with the constitutionality of military tribunals, was the final case heard this term.

William Denis represented the petitioner, Lakhdar Boumediene, and the office of the Solicitor General represented President Bush.

The Petitioner has filed a reply brief with the court in the case of Boumediene v. Bush.  This case will be heard this coming Thursday, stay tuned to SUNN for all of your Supreme Court coverage.

The full text can be downloaded here

Petitioner recives a flood of support in Boumediene v. Bush

Two days before oral arguments there has been a flury of support recived on behalf of the petitioner in Boumediene v. Bush.  Sarah Brigham representing the World Organization for Human Rights and the ACLU have filed amicus briefs with the Supreme Court.

• The full text of World Organization for Human Rights can be downloaded here.
•  The full text of The ACLU can be downloaded here.

The G.O.P comments in Boumediene v. Bush

Last night SUNN received an amicus brief from Matt Reilly, council for the G.O.P.   This brief is in support of the respondents in this case which will be the last case heard by the Supreme Court during this term.

The full brief can be downloaded here

Respondents Brief on the Merits recived in Boumediene v. Bush

SUNN has received the respondents brief on the merits in the case of Boumediene v. Bush.  this is the last case that the SUpreme Court will hear on the docket this year.

The full text can be downloaded here

Brief on the Merits in Boumediene v. Bush

The legal documents are begining to come in regarding the case of Boumediene v. Bush.  The petitioners have filed their brief on the merits in the case.  Oral arguments in this case will be the last that the Supreme Court will hear during this court session.

The full text can be downloaded here

Tentative Calendar set for Oral Arguments

An approximate calendar for oral arguments in the  Supreme Court’s have been released for the current docket.

• October 25th Crawford v. Marion County Election Board
• November 1st Planned Parenthood v. Rounds
• November 8th Medellin v. Texas
• November either the 13th or 15th Boumediene v. Bush

Decisions for Certiorari are in!

The Supreme Court announced today the cases that they are going to hear for this term.  They have decided to grant Writs of Certiorari in the cases of.

• Boumediene v. Bush
• Crawford v. Marion
• Medellin v. Texas
• Planned Parenthood v. Rounds

In the case of Planned Parenthood v. Rounds the Supreme Court has decided that it will only decide the first amendment question that the petitioner has raised.  Now that the docket has been determined stay tuned to SUNN as we will break down each case in detail.